Method and device to enable and assist the elderly and females to exercise their shin muscles

ABSTRACT

This dorsal flex exercise machine is comprised of a static seat connected to the frame of the said machine. There is a foot-plate pivoted approximately under the position of the heel, when feet rest on the said foot-plate. The upholstered cylindrical lifting roller pads, one for each foot, are lifted by the upper side of the foot, lifting the said roller pads simultaneously. The said roller pads are adjustable vertically to fit the range of peoples&#39; feet and shoe sizes. The dorsal flex exercise machine exercises the shin muscles otherwise known as the tibialis anterior muscles. The movement performed by use of this exercise machine is called the dorsal flex. At least one hand bar is positioned to aid entry to and exit from the machine and to stabilize the user while exercising.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of exercise resistance machines forimprovement of general heath, especially strengthening the shin musclesknown in Latin as tibialis anterior. These muscles control the abilityto walk with stability and when strong they prevent foot drag andthereby help to reduce falls. The exercising provides physiotherapeuticeffects to strengthen, build and rebuild muscles and bone mass andprevents muscle and bone mass deterioration. This patent relates to andcaters for the special needs of the elderly, those convalescing frominjury or surgery and females.

BACKGROUND of the INVENTION

The use of machines for exercising the body is well known in the art.For many decades it has been considered beneficial for a person's healthto exercise regularly. The benefits are many and probably some that weare not yet aware. A few of the better known benefits are to thefunctioning of the heart, the blood vessels, the blood cells, themuscles, the bone structure, the functioning of the brain, the levels ofcholesterol and blood sugars, and the general feeling of well-being.There was a time when it was felt to be not so beneficial for theelderly to exercise but now it is considered also very beneficial.Obviously, the degree of stress on the body and length of time of suchexercise varies from person to person depending on age, general healthand any specific disabilities endured.

One of the factors that make it difficult for the elderly is their lackof agility. They often have pain when moving their various limbs. Thisdiscourages them from starting to exercise even though when they haveexercised, usually they feel better than beforehand. If they avoidexercising then they do not enjoy the many side benefits of exercisingand a vicious cycle is sometimes created whereby their healthdeteriorates generally. Most prior art exercise machines do not takeinto account the special needs of the elderly and therefore help tocreate this barrier. The machines are often cumbersome, sometimescomplicated to operate, without easily understandable instructions,without handles to aid entering and exiting and without taking intoaccount the sometimes frail and painful limbs of the elderly. They arebasically designed for the young and middle aged.

The elderly either currently suffer from ailments that are best assistedby controlled exercise or are likely to suffer from such ailments ifthey do not exercise, for example, heart disease, weight control,walking stability, osteoporosis or lower back pains.

Daily activities, that a younger person performs automatically withoutrealizing how many muscles and joints are involved, can be a major causeof pain and other discomforts throughout the day for the elderly ordisabled. Examples of such daily activities are bending to tie shoes,getting in and out of the car or bath, walking up stairs or a hill,pushing a shopping cart, carrying groceries and simply stretching toreach items. These are but a few of the hundreds of activities that anelderly person has to do daily and without regular exercising and musclestrengthening these everyday activities become more difficult as theperson ages.

Women are more prone than men to a bone disease called osteoporosis,usually from the age of menopause and older. One of the majorrecommended preventative measures for osteoporosis is regular exercisingof the weight bearing kind in order to increase the bone mass.Furthermore, females more than males, require special features inexercise machines to cater for their more delicate body structures.Therefore, it would be preferable for the elderly, the disabled andthose convalescing, to use exercise machines that are purpose built anduser friendly for their specific needs. The apparatus of this inventionis specifically and professionally designed for the special needs ofthis group of users. The innovation of this invention includes and/ortakes into account amongst others, the following factors:

-   -   the user's general lack of agility and possibility of various        pains when moving into position to start exercising, during the        exercising and when exiting,    -   to give as much as possible clutter free access and a minimum of        overhead apparatus to ease entry/exit and to avoid accidental        injury to the user or a helper of the user,    -   a static seat.    -   the need for smaller gradations of weights so that the counter        resistance effect can be gradually increased,    -   the proper placing of handles and bars to aid entering and        leaving the machines and stabilizing handles to optionally hold        while exercising,    -   notices and instructions written in clear language and large        print,        and many other features for the benefit of the infirm as are        herein described in greater detail.

Prior art has addressed some aspects of the needs of older people. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,302 issued to Miller reveals a moveableexercise machine that can be brought to a chair ridden person toexercise. The novelty is more in the portability features than the useof the machine itself. US Patent Application No. 20040220019 issued toMaser reveal a special feature for older people namely that in a pedalmachine both pedals can start at their lowest level instead of one upand one down. The Japanese Patent No. 2004016577 issued to Shigeo et al.reveals an exercise machine where the user can exercise in a recumbentposition but the range of movements of the arms and legs is limited withno possibility of increasing or decreasing the stress to the arms orlegs. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,419 issued to Rota showing howbeneficial the rebounding type of exercise is for all aged usersespecially the elderly.

The uniqueness of this invention is the combination of all its variousfeatures into one device as are herein described.

After years of research the innovators of this invention have foundsolutions to the above mentioned problems generally and to the specificproblems and needs of the elderly and infirm. The result is incorporatedin the apparatus of this invention as hereinafter described. The resultis a user friendly machine that the infirm will want to use because itanswers their special needs. It will help them overcome that soimportant initial step of starting to exercise.

The commercial potential for such machines is great. Firstly thepurchaser could be an end user of the exercise machine of this inventionor an exercise club that also wishes to cater for the elderly, infirm orthose recuperating from injury. Such exercise clubs will be able toattract more members and from a wider range of population. Exerciseclubs for women only, will be able to offer machines user friendly forfemales. Old-age homes are likely purchasers of these machines, toimprove the overall health of their members, to usefully occupy theirtime and to attract new members by showing quality facilities. Hotelsoften have exercise rooms and will want to provide quality facilitiesfor their elderly customers. Hospitals or homes for rehabilitation aftermedical operations or accidents are another likely customer for suchmachines. Most of the features designed for older people will alsoassist people recouping from illness or operations. They will recoverfaster, reduce the number of visits to the physiotherapist and be happythat they are helping themselves to become independent and return totheir normal routine.

The manufacturers of this invention will be catering for a market thatis expanding rapidly both by the greater percentage of people living toolder ages and the increasing awareness amongst all sectors of thepopulation that regular exercising is a key to improved health. Healthfunds have already recognized how many millions of dollars they saveeach year when their members maintain a better standard of health. As aresult these health funds often subsidize for their members, themembership fees of exercise clubs. All these factors will contribute tothe commercial success of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description present embodiments of the invention,and are intended to provide an overview, or framework, for understandingthe nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. Theaccompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding ofthe invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description serve to explain theprinciples and operations of the invention.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine to exercise andthereby strengthen the shin muscles as well as maintain bone massespecially of the elderly, infirm and females. This muscle strengtheningand bone mass maintenance will in turn help to improve balance, improveposture, increase ability to stand from the sitting position, enhancewalking and reduce incidence of falls.

Another object of the invention is to strengthen the muscles calledtibialis anterior.

Another object of the invention is to assist the exerciser to walk withincreased stability.

Another object of this invention is to enhance a person's ability tobalance and thereby reduce the chance of a fall.

Another object of this invention is to ease the access to and exit fromthe exercise machine for example so that there is no overhangingapparatus potentially capable of causing head or other injury andwithout sharp edges protruding from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to have at least one static handsupport bar to increase the user's stability while using the machineand/or while entering or exiting.

Another object of this invention is for the said exercise machine to bestably resting on the ground when in use and optionally moveable when sodesired.

Another object of the invention is to make instructions for the usersimple to understand and written in large print in a color thatcontrasts with its background. It is also an object to make the saidinstructions readable while the user is in position on the exercisemachine.

Another object of the invention is to have a picture on the body of theapparatus in a clearly visible position and color, illustrating aneveryday task. This task the infirm often find difficult to carry outand is made easier by strengthening the specific muscles that themachine of this invention helps to strengthen. State of art exercisemachines often mention on the machine the name of the muscles that willbe strengthened by the machine or sometimes they have a picture of thosemuscles in a picture of a body. The user of an exercise machine will beable to relate much easier to a picture of the everyday task that willbe enhanced by using the machine. It will give the user a greaterincentive to work diligently at the said exercises.

One of the everyday tasks that is associated with this invention iswalking with stability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain, by way of example only,the principles of the invention:

FIG. A is a side sectional diagram of the essential parts of theexercise machine of this invention.

FIG. B is a back sectional diagram of the essential parts of theexercise machine of this invention.

FIG. C is a top sectional diagram of the essential parts of the exercisemachine of this invention.

DESCRIPTION of the PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As will be appreciated the present invention is capable of other anddifferent embodiments than those discussed above and described in moredetail below, and its several details are capable of modifications invarious aspects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and description of the embodiments set forthbelow are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

FIG. A shows the side view of this invention. The machine can bereferred to as a dorsal flex exercise machine 100. Once in position onthe seat 102 the user may wish to hold onto the static side handles 104to stabilize himself while exercising.

The upholstered backrest 105 is angled backward at 75°±3° from thehorizontal to give the maximum contra and support to the back of theuser when using the exercise machine of this invention. The weights 106are housed in the weight housing 108 and are stacked vertically. Thecable 110 is attached to a bored pin-rod 112 at one end and to thefoot-plate 120 at its other end at point 121. The cable 110 can be,alternatively, a belt or a chain. The bored pin-rod 112 has at least onehole corresponding to the number of weights 106. The weights 106 eachhave a hole in them passing horizontally from front to back. The pin 114is inserted through one of the weights and into one of the holes in thebored pin-rod 112.

The user places both feet on the foot-plate 120 whereby the top surfaceof his feet rests immediately under the roller pads 122. The roller pads122 are adjustably attached to a bar 128 which is parallel to thefoot-plate 120. The exercise is to keep the heels on the foot-plate andmake the front portion of the foot lift the upholstered roller pads 122.The more weights 106 there are above the pin 114 the harder it will beto lift the roller pad 122 as the pivotal point 130 is beyond the point121 where the cable 110 is attached to the foot-plate 120. The pivot 130is attached to the frame of the exercising machine 100 at point 132.

The position of the roller pads 122 is adjustable vertically with screwbolt 124 and horizontally with screw bolt 126. There is a counterweight134 to counter the natural weight of the footplate 120 and surroundingapparatus, so that when the weights 106 indicate for example fourkilograms the user will be lifting this weight and no more.

The dorsal flex exercising machine 100 could have lockable wheels 136and 138 to help to transport the exercise machine 100 to the desiredposition before locking the wheels for stability during the exercising.At least one of the wheels would lift the exercise machine 100 off theground for the purpose of movement and lower it to the ground level forcomplete stability while in use.

FIG. B is the top view of the dorsal flex exercise machine 100. The seat102, stabilizing handles 104 and backrest 105 are attached to theexercise machine frame opposite the footplate 120 and weights housing108. The roller pads 122 and their position adjusting knobs 124 and 126are seen from the top view in their relative positions.

FIG. C shows the dorsal flex exercise machine 100 from the back view.The parts visible in this figure are the seat 105 attached to its angledsupport frame 101, its steadying handles 104 and the seat 102. Theweight stack 108 is in front of the seat 102. The lockable wheels 136and 138 are for greater mobility and are attached to the frame of theexercising machine 100.

What is claimed:
 1. An exercise machine comprising a frame, a seat withan angled back-rest, a foot-plate attached pivotally to the said frame,a roller pad attached to the said foot-plate by two bars perpendicularto each other, so that the said roller pad is situated above the saidfoot-plate, adjustable selectorized resistance weights attached by acable to the said foot-plate, at least one static handle to aidstabilization, whereby people generally and especially the elderly, theinfirm and females can exercise their tibialis anterior muscles.
 2. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said selectorizedresistance weights are adjustable so that the number of weights used isproportional to the degree of resistance in small increments of not morethan 0.5 kilogram.
 3. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 2 whereinthe said adjustability is in increments of at most 0.5 kilogram.
 4. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 3 where the said degree ofresistance is chosen by means of inserting a pin in a horizontal holepassing through the width of a chosen weight and into a bored pin-rodthat is attached to a cable joining the said bored pin-rod to the saidfoot-plate whereby that weight and all the weights above it are liftedby the said connecting cable when the said foot bars are lifted.
 5. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said weights areattached by means of a cable and pulleys to the said foot-plate at apoint between the pivot point and the front end of the said foot-plate.6. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein the stack ofweights and the said pin are reachable by the user of the saidexercising machine from his exercising position.
 7. An exercise machineas claimed in claim 1 wherein the position of the said roller pad isadjustable vertically.
 8. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1wherein the position of the said roller pad is adjustable horizontally.9. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said angledback-rest is at an angle of 75° from the horizontal, leaning backward.10. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein the said angledback-rest is at an angle of 75°±3° from the horizontal, leaningbackward.
 11. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising at least three wheels for transporting the machine where atleast one wheel mechanism lifts the said exercise machine off the groundcausing the weight of the said exercising machine to rest on the saidwheel and of which at least one wheel is lockable thereby enabling thesaid exercise machine to rest firmly on the ground or optionally, bemoved on the said wheels.
 12. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1wherein the access to the said exercise machine is open and unclutteredthereby easing the entry to and exit from the said exercising machine bythe elderly or infirm and easing the work of a helper of the saidelderly or infirm.
 13. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe said stabilization is during entry to and exit from the saidexercising machine as well as during the action of exercising.
 14. Anexercise machine comprising a frame, a seat with an angled back-rest, afoot-plate attached pivotally to the said frame, a bar attached to thesaid foot-plate with two bars perpendicular to each other, so that thesaid roller pad is situated above the said foot-plate, adjustableresistance weights attached by a cable to the said foot-plate,instructions for use of the said exercising machine, at least onepicture of an everyday task that is enhanced by the use of the saidexercising machine, whereby people generally and especially the elderly,the infirm and females can exercise their shin muscles.
 15. An exercisemachine as claimed in claim 14 wherein the said instructions are inlarge clear print well contrasted with the background of the said printbeing visible and readable by the user of the said exercise machine fromthe position of the user when ready to exercise.
 16. An exercise machineas claimed in claim 14 wherein the said picture of an everyday task isaffixed to the body of the said exercise machine in a position easilyvisible and designed to be easily understandable which task is beingrepresented.
 17. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein thesaid everyday task is walking.
 18. An exercise machine as claimed inclaims 1 and 14 wherein the said cable is substituted by a belt orchain.
 19. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the saidangled seat back-rest is at an angle of 75° from the horizontal, leaningbackward.
 20. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the saidangled seat back-rest is at an angle of 75°±3° from the horizontal,leaning backward.